Something in the Air Tonight?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that air pollution globally causes premature death in around 7 million people, each year (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/20/limiting-air-pollution-could-prevent-50000-deaths-in-europe). Air pollution (mainly fine particulates and nitrogen dioxide generally from vehicles) ,naturally, results in years of ill health, before those people die. That ill health is costly both in terms of the pressures it puts on medical services and in lost productivity. Even in Europe (where there are concerns about such issues), WHO reckon that if safe levels of fine particulates and nitrogen dioxide were imposed, they would prevent more than 51,000 premature deaths each year. The Lancet Planetary Health Journal actually lists a thousand European cities, each with its level of air-pollution-related premature deaths. As one might predict, some of the highest mortalities occur in major Italian cities, whereas the lowest are generally seen in northern cities of Scandinavia. This certainly underlines the very considerable health benefits that would occur, if we all moved to electric modes of transport (and reduced wood and coal burning in homes?). The trouble with most air pollution, is that it is difficult to see.